Reflecting upon a difficult interaction I had with someone recently: How might gratitude have made a difference?

Gratitude helps me take the ‘edge’ off a negative interaction, even if it’s done subsequent to the interaction (and that’s when it happens, mostly). In reflecting on disputes of any type, if I can be grateful, it helps me see where my ‘ego limitations’ are, what I want in the universe versus what the universe wants for me. It also helps me realize that “God’s will be done, and not mine”.
I can say that I have had remarkable insights recently from really negative experiences...

Gratitude helps me take the ‘edge’ off a negative interaction, even if it’s done subsequent to the interaction (and that’s when it happens, mostly). In reflecting on disputes of any type, if I can be grateful, it helps me see where my ‘ego limitations’ are, what I want in the universe versus what the universe wants for me. It also helps me realize that “God’s will be done, and not mine”.

I can say that I have had remarkable insights recently from really negative experiences, seeing what my beliefs are and where my hot buttons are. So, gratitude is a pathway to getting back to being centered faster.

As my father ages, our relationship and conversations are becoming more challenging. When / as I practice gratitude, I am able to find a deeper acceptance of each of us and the challenges we each face – my father as he ages, and myself as I learn new ways to be with and support him while honouring myself and my own voice and needs. Ultimately it is so much larger than either or both of us, which I believe is where gratitude fits in, on a good moment or day!

When I was asking people about getting health insurance out-of-state for my needed daily medication and kept getting denied (which really started making me angry, since I'm an out-of-state student), it might have helped to remember that, while the experience was difficult, it was a firsthand experience of how injustice becomes implemented in the systems created to help us. From this, I could be grateful for the lessons I learn about systemic injustice and resolutions for it. Right now, I am actu...

When I was asking people about getting health insurance out-of-state for my needed daily medication and kept getting denied (which really started making me angry, since I’m an out-of-state student), it might have helped to remember that, while the experience was difficult, it was a firsthand experience of how injustice becomes implemented in the systems created to help us. From this, I could be grateful for the lessons I learn about systemic injustice and resolutions for it. Right now, I am actually becoming more curious about law so I can know whether a civil suit is possible if this does end up becoming a problem. If nothing else, a bad experience usually has some good knowledge and wisdom to impart.

I agree with Michele that I often find gratitude comes after a difficult interaction. Gratefulness has taught me to always look for the positive even in a negative situation or a situation that makes me feel negative.

I complicated the interaction I recently had with someone trying to take advantage of me. Gratitude for myself would have helped me sort out my negative feelings towards this individual — gratitude for what I do have and for my self instead of focusing on a negative vibration.

Difficult situations… I found myself so not comfortable and against with my Value. And there’s nothing I can do about it… but, it’s good to have a conformation that what’s important for ‘me’. Be able to stick with my value is care and kindness. Respectfulness.
Grateful to realizing how much I value.

I had an unexpected, difficult interaction with someone yesterday. I am not one to react in the moment. But instead, take the time to reflect on how much pain someone is carrying when they lash out. Ultimately, I am grateful for the interaction. It makes me reflect, and assess if there are things I could have done differently. I want to continue to learn and grow from each experience.

There are many times when I have had to have difficult interactions with others and situations. One thing I have learned is that if I turn toward and make these interactions more of a dance am more likely to find a way to be in relationship with another. Obviously I do not always get what I want, but if I am willing to attend to and take responsibility for my emotional state by saying things like “I feel this way” vs “You make me feel”, then I maintain my integrity and balance. If I cont...

There are many times when I have had to have difficult interactions with others and situations. One thing I have learned is that if I turn toward and make these interactions more of a dance am more likely to find a way to be in relationship with another. Obviously I do not always get what I want, but if I am willing to attend to and take responsibility for my emotional state by saying things like “I feel this way” vs “You make me feel”, then I maintain my integrity and balance. If I continually say “you make me feel, etc” then I may be subtlety giving up my own power. Again, I do not always get what I want, but I do maintain some level of equanimity and for that I can be grateful.

no recent difficulties of this kind. a cultivated sense of appreciation and gratitude might be one of the causes. another might be my secluded life right now. also not everybody is willing or prepared to communicate directly, which is kind of painful. since patience is such a valuable virtue to practice I’m also at peace with how things are right now.
thank you gratefulness team for the training possibilities and support! 🙏 thank you community for the shared thoughts and discussions 💐

In the midst of a serious disagreement with my wife I can pause to notice the large body of evidence that we are in fact committed to our marriage. I can read our marriage certificate, framed on the wall, look at our signatures and go back to that moment, her signature so clear, my hand trembling as I signed. I can feel how, in facing our differences together we are growing into a deeper relationship. That’s something to be grateful for, isn’t it?

I think gratitude comes into play after a difficult situation not necessarily during. I agree with Sarah about the pause … reflection rather than reaction is needed and, I too, need to practice this sometimes.

Being grateful for all there is/was in that relationship even though it has run its course. Allow myself to be and feel love for both of us regardless of the circumstances. And move ever forward! Being grateful would have helped mitigate my heartbreak and allowed me to ‘let go sooner’ than now. I learned a very valuable lesson. I need to work on self-discovery and go inward as I had been doing. It was a huge wake-up call that self-care and love of myself must come first. For that, I am a...

Being grateful for all there is/was in that relationship even though it has run its course. Allow myself to be and feel love for both of us regardless of the circumstances. And move ever forward! Being grateful would have helped mitigate my heartbreak and allowed me to ‘let go sooner’ than now. I learned a very valuable lesson. I need to work on self-discovery and go inward as I had been doing. It was a huge wake-up call that self-care and love of myself must come first. For that, I am also grateful and accepting that now is the time to work on me with the guidance of the Universe.

It depends on what the nature of the difficult interaction was. For example, sometimes, in the end, I have been grateful that the difficulty had been raised, dealt with and resolved. Other time, in the end, I was just grateful the matter was behind me, period! While being aware that gratitude and gratefulness are powerful life tools that can inform and better our lives, sometimes things just get done, period, and aspects of gratitude are not really central to the matter at hand.